Is chocolate a character of its own in the story? If so, what does it represent?

_________________________________________________________Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -
Wow! What a ride!

stroch

Post subject:

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:03 am

Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 6:41 pmPosts: 1072Location: New Orleans

I'm so glad you asked this question. I did not respond to any of the character questions after the first because I had such mixed feelings about all of them -- even nasty Muscat wanted to please the priest, and Vianne and Armande were often cruel. I didn't much like any of them.

I read the book years ago, before the movie, and loved it because chocolate was the star.

It seemed to be a fable where the people were broadly sketched and intended to mirror the transformation of a bitter powder into a marvelous delicacy. The descriptions of chocolate making were the real love story of the book.

Chocolate is a character in MY life. I just love the stuff. I call it my drug of choice.

I think it can be a 'character' of sorts. It was a tool through which the others in the book viewed their life issues - chocolate could be seductive, healing, represent evil temptations, fun for life, memories, family traditions, change, secret hopes/desires.

_________________________________________________________"Buy the ticket, take the ride."

lumineuse

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Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:06 am

Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2004 10:50 amPosts: 5989Location: Erie, PA, USA

KYwoman wrote:

Chocolate is a character in MY life. I just love the stuff. I call it my drug of choice.

I think it can be a 'character' of sorts. It was a tool through which the others in the book viewed their life issues - chocolate could be seductive, healing, represent evil temptations, fun for life, memories, family traditions, change, secret hopes/desires.

... and sensuality and pleasure.

It's my favorite drug, too - life is just better when there's a piece of dark rich chocolate in your mouth!!!

Wow, great answers so far! I agree with you guys and think it definately was a leading character in the story. I think it stood in a way, for the temptations of life, good and bad and how people dealt with them.

And chocolate is my drug of choice too, along with the caffeine in Diet Pepsi and coffee.

_________________________________________________________"So we shall let the reader answer this question for himself, who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on the shore and merely existed." ~HST~

I think in the story it was more a tool,a tool for Vianne to vieuw people,for the people to open up to Vianne,so a too to connect .
greets,
es

_________________________________________________________who laughs the last didnt got the joke,
freek&sjaak

Liz

Post subject:

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:42 am

JDZ Moderator

Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:13 pmPosts: 12588Location: The Left Coast

I prefer my coffee and merlot. But I agree with all of you that chocolate was a main character in the story. I also believe it represents not just temptation but many life issues, as KY pointed out. And it serves as a tool to bring people together, as es suggested, and to encourage their transformation.

_________________________________________________________You can't judge a book by its cover.

The only thing that matters is the ending. It's the most important part of the story.

Gilbert's Girl

Post subject:

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:54 am

Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2004 3:14 amPosts: 151037Location: UK

Most definately. I think everyone has said everything, but I would pick up on the fact that food can often be a good connecter with people whatever it is.Chocolate has its own properties though especially for women. I think I'd better go eat some

lumineuse

Post subject:

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:00 am

Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2004 10:50 amPosts: 5989Location: Erie, PA, USA

Liz wrote:

I prefer my coffee and merlot. But I agree with all of you that chocolate was a main character in the story. I also believe it represents not just temptation but many life issues, as KY pointed out. And it serves as a tool to bring people together, as es suggested, and to encourage their transformation.

And chocolate is my drug of choice too, along with the caffeine in Diet Pepsi and coffee.

Oh how we know Luvdepp....the quest for the Diet Pepsi!!!

Yes, chocolate is a temptation and I really liked stroch's description. I had not thought of that parallel before:

"It seemed to be a fable where the people were broadly sketched and intended to mirror the transformation of a bitter powder into a marvelous delicacy. The descriptions of chocolate making were the real love story of the book."

_________________________________________________________"In the time of your life, live....so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it." Saroyan

Chocolate is a character in MY life. I just love the stuff. I call it my drug of choice.

I think it can be a 'character' of sorts. It was a tool through which the others in the book viewed their life issues - chocolate could be seductive, healing, represent evil temptations, fun for life, memories, family traditions, change, secret hopes/desires.

... and sensuality and pleasure.

It's my favorite drug, too - life is just better when there's a piece of dark rich chocolate in your mouth!!!

Ain't that the truth!!!!

_________________________________________________________"Buy the ticket, take the ride."

bluebird

Post subject:

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 12:00 pm

Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 10:34 pmPosts: 757Location: Southeastern PA

lumineuse wrote:

Liz wrote:

I prefer my coffee and merlot. But I agree with all of you that chocolate was a main character in the story. I also believe it represents not just temptation but many life issues, as KY pointed out. And it serves as a tool to bring people together, as es suggested, and to encourage their transformation.

But, Liz! Dark chocolate goes so well with both coffee and merlot!!

I agree, lumineuse! I love dark chocolate with wine -- and coffee -- and Diet Coke -- and all by itself......

When I'm happy, I eat chocolate. When I'm sad, I eat chocolate. When I'm just so-so, I eat chocolate.....

bluebird

_________________________________________________________The edge … there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over. HST

Liz

Post subject:

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 12:07 pm

JDZ Moderator

Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:13 pmPosts: 12588Location: The Left Coast

lumineuse wrote:

Liz wrote:

I prefer my coffee and merlot. But I agree with all of you that chocolate was a main character in the story. I also believe it represents not just temptation but many life issues, as KY pointed out. And it serves as a tool to bring people together, as es suggested, and to encourage their transformation.

But, Liz! Dark chocolate goes so well with both coffee and merlot!!

Chocolate--milk or dark--is ever so good with coffee. I will grant you that, Lumi. In fact, I'm popping a chocolate Easter egg in my mouth right now as I drink my coffee. Not bad!

_________________________________________________________You can't judge a book by its cover.

The only thing that matters is the ending. It's the most important part of the story.

It represents hedonism. It is the thing we want but that society has made us think we should not have. It is the thing that will harm us if taken in excess, but the thing which in small doses makes life's hardness easier to bear. So I don't think it's a character, but it is a concept.

_________________________________________________________Work hard, learn well, and make peace with the fact that you'll never be as cool as Johnny Depp. GQ.

Solace in the flood

fansmom

Post subject:

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:07 pm

Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2004 4:50 pmPosts: 2059Location: Olney, Maryland

Coincidentally, as I read the question about chocolate, my radio told me what's coming up in the next hour:
"A trio of plant diseases with ominous names -- black pod, frosty pod, and witches' broom -- threatens chocolate production worldwide. One expert says that if frosty pod and witches' broom gain a foothold in West Africa, production of cacao beans, the basis of chocolate, could be reduced by one million metric tons per year, knocking out almost a quarter of the world's cacao crop. What does that mean for our chocolate addiction? Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (2-3 Eastern)."